David Carr, of Pasadena and an alumni of UH, shows his support as the football team walks into the stadium.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

David Carr, of Pasadena and an alumni of UH, shows his support as...

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University of Houston offensive linesman Chris Thompson picks up running back Michael Hayes after he scored a touchdown.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

University of Houston offensive linesman Chris Thompson picks up...

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University of Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin shakes hands as he does the Cougar Walk.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

University of Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin shakes hands as he...

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University of Houston running back Bryce Beall (25) looks to regather a football that was deflected by a UCLA player in the Third quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston. The University of Houston won 38-34.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

University of Houston running back Bryce Beall (25) looks to...

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UCLA safety Tony Dye (6) pulls o University of Houston running back Bryce Beall's (25) facemast after tackling him in the third quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston. The University of Houston won 38-34.

University of Houston wide receiver Tyron Carrier (35) braces himself for a hit as he runs the ball in the third quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston.The University of Houston won 38-34.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

University of Houston wide receiver Tyron Carrier (35) braces...

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University of Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin asks the referee to review a touchdown by his offensive linesman Chris Thompson in the fourth quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston. The University of Houston won 38-34. Thompson was awarded the touchdown.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

University of Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin asks the referee to...

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University of Houston defensive lineman David Hunter (95) lifts University of Houston offensive linesman Chris Thompson (70), who scored a touch down in the fourth quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston. Thompson always lifts players who score. The University of Houston won 38-34.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

University of Houston defensive lineman David Hunter (95) lifts...

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University of Houston special teams player Mark Roberts (18) blocks a kick in the fourth quarter of a NCAA football game against UCLA, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston. The University of Houston won 38-34.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

University of Houston special teams player Mark Roberts (18) blocks...

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UCLA linebacker Sean Westgate (11) tackles University of Houston quarterback Case Keenum (7) after Keenum scrambled for a first down in the fourth quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston. The University of Houston won 38-34. .

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

UCLA linebacker Sean Westgate (11) tackles University of Houston...

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University of Houston linebacker William Moore (35) celebrates with University of Houston defensive back Zachary McMillian (10) after the defense stopped UCLA from scoring, including a blocked field goal, in the fourth quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston. The University of Houston won 38-34.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

University of Houston linebacker William Moore (35) celebrates with...

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University of Houston running back Bryce Beall (25) runs past UCLA safety Dietrich Riley (1) for a touchdown in the second quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

University of Houston running back Bryce Beall (25) runs past UCLA...

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University of Houston quarterback Case Keenum (7) shows his excitement after beating UCLA 38-34 in a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

University of Houston quarterback Case Keenum (7) shows his...

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University of Houston quarterback Case Keenum (7) high fives the student section after beating UCLA 38-34 in a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

University of Houston quarterback Case Keenum (7) high fives the...

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University of Houston quarterback Case Keenum (7) looks up as the University of Houston school song is played after beating UCLA 38-34 in a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

University of Houston quarterback Case Keenum (7) looks up as the...

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University of Houston running back Michael Hayes (29) somehow evades all the UCLA tacklers around him to score a touch down in the second quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

University of Houston running back Michael Hayes (29) somehow...

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University of Houston running back Bryce Beall (25) is lifted by University of Houston offensive linesman Chris Thompson (70) after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

University of Houston running back Bryce Beall (25) is lifted by...

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University of Houston offensive linesman Chris Thompson (70) looks down at a football he'd recover for a touch down in the fourth quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston. THE against the University of Houston WON 38-34.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

University of Houston offensive linesman Chris Thompson (70) looks...

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University of Houston running back Michael Hayes (29) uses his blockers to score the first touchdown of the game against UCLA in the first quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

University of Houston running back Michael Hayes (29) uses his...

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University of Houston running back Michael Hayes (29) runs away from the defense after breaking numerous tackles for a touchdown in the second quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

University of Houston running back Michael Hayes (29) runs away...

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UCLA running back Johnathan Franklin (23) is hit so hard by University of Houston linebacker Phillip Steward (42) he leaves his feet in the fourth quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston. The against the University of Houston WON 38-34.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

UCLA running back Johnathan Franklin (23) is hit so hard by...

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University of Houston head coach and his assistants try to get the attention of their players in the first quarter of a NCAA football game against UCLA, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Robertson Stadium in Houston.

"I was lifting weights with Case ... and he said, 'Man, I just want to get hit again,' " Thompson said. "I said, 'I'm not a big fan of you getting hit. It's my job to protect you, and I don't think that's a good idea.' "

Keenum wanted to capture the feeling of playing football again, more than 11 months after he last played in a game. The Cougars wanted to get back to winning. And while Keenum got his fair share of hits, it was the Cougars who delivered the decisive blows to UCLA on Saturday.

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QUICK HITS

---With 180 all-purpose yards, UH senior receiver Tyron Carrier became the school's career leader in the category. He now has 5,941 all-purpose yards, putting him ahead of former Cougar Ketric Sanford (5,817).

---UH quarterback Case Keenum moved into fifth place on the NCAA career total offense list (14,788 yards), passing Hawai'I's Colt Brennan and BYU's Ty Detmer.

---Nine UH players made their first Division I collegiate starts on Saturday.

---The Cougars are 27-5 (.843) at Robertson Stadium dating back to the 2006 season.

With the sixth-year senior back in the lineup for the first time since he tore his right ACL against the Bruins last September, and with a raucous crowd of 31,144 waiting to see them back to their high-scoring ways, the Cougars didn't disappoint, pulling out a 38-34 victory over the Bruins at Robertson Stadium.

With the win, their fourth straight in a season opener, the Cougars (1-0) can wash away any lingering questions about Keenum's health or the team itself after a tough 2010.

UH scored on five of its first six possessions, using its no-huddle, up-tempo attack to race out to a 31-14 halftime lead. Senior running backs Bryce Beall, Michael Hayes and Charles Sims combined for 110 total yards in the first two quarters.

Keenum (30-of-40 for 310 yards and two TDs) was nearly flawless, showing his trademark accuracy and plenty of mobility less than a year after undergoing knee surgery.

Perhaps the most telling sign that the Cougars' offense was back in top form was a sequence in the final two minutes of the first half in which UH put 14 points on the board. Hayes (42 rushing yards, 42 receiving yards) bowling-balled his way to a 34-yard touchdown run with 1:56 to go. UH then covered 64 yards in just 27 seconds, as Keenum hit Carrier (10 catches for 138 yards) for a 23-yard touchdown strike with 8 seconds to go.

"One of the advantages of our offense is we don't have to really practice the two-minute drill," coach Kevin Sumlin said. "Our guys can just look at the clock and figure out that we need to be moving fast."

Defensively, the Cougars got off to a solid start, keeping the Bruins (0-1) off the scoreboard on two of their first three possessions and knocking UCLA starting quarterback Kevin Prince out of the game.

But his backup, Richard Brehaut, did enough damage with his arm (17-of-26 for 264 yards) and his legs (13 carries for 87 yards) to keep the Bruins in the ballgame. With running back Johnathan Franklin (16 carries for 128 yards) and 6-8 tight end Joseph Fauria (six catches for 110 yards) at Brehaut's disposal, UCLA rallied with two third-quarter touchdowns to cut UH's lead to 31-28.

Rave review

The Cougars answered in unique fashion. With 9:31 to go, Keenum found Carrier for what looked to be a 12-yard pass to the UCLA 1, but Carrier fumbled. After officials reviewed the play, initially calling Carrier down, the replay showed that Thompson recovered the fumble in the end zone, giving UH a 38-28 lead.

For the Cougars, it wasn't about redemption or revenge. It was about starting the season off right and playing to the level they expect. And Keenum was happy to win in his first game back.

"It's a really good feeling," he said. "My mind's a bit tired, my body's tired, but it's the best tired I've ever been in my life."